Locking device for a telescopic stem of a trolley

ABSTRACT

Locking device for a telescopic stem for a trolley wherein the stem comprises an inner stem and an outer stem, which may glide into each other, characterised in that a friction element is arranged in the outer stem and that the inner stem is equipped with the blocking element grasping into the friction element and locking the movement of the inner stem in relation to the outer stem, in that the blocking element presses against the friction element of housing with a conical groove linked to a rod stretching from the housing to the upper end of the inner stem and connected to a handle which influences the position of the housing.

The present invention relates to a locking device for a telescopic stemwith handle, for a trolley, and especially a children's trolley such asdescribed in Norwegian patent 315230. The trolley comprises a centralstem wherein a seat or another module may be height adjusted along thestem, and the height of the handle may be regulated in that the stem maybe lengthened telescopically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is proposed in the above mentioned patent that the central stem ofthe trolley can be lengthened in that the stem consists of two parts,wherein the upper part may, for example, be moved within the lower part.In order to lock the stem parts in relation to each other, a lockingsleeve may for example be used at the transition between the parts.

The disadvantage of this solution is that the area around the transitionis not easily accessible, since modules such as a children's seat whichmay be height adjusted all the way up to just under the transition,hinder access to the lock.

A telescopic handle is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,029 on a golftrolley, wherein the inner and outer stems glide into each other and arelocked by a locking pin, which penetrates both stems in the upper partof the outer stem.

There therefore exits a need for a locking device which may be remotelycontrolled from a more accessible area on the trolley.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a solution for the remotecontrol of a telescopic stem on a trolley, especially a children'strolley.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above objects are achieved by a remote controlled locking devicewherein the stem comprises an inner stem (1) connected to a handle (1 a)and an outer stem (2), wherein the inner stem can glide inside the outerstem, wherein a blocking element is present which locks movement of theinner stem (1) in relation to the outer stem (2), characterised in thata friction element (3) is placed in the outer stem (2) and that theinner stem (1) is equipped with the blocking element (4) grasping intothe friction element (3) and locking the movement of the inner stem (1)in relation to the outer stem (2), in that the blocking element (4) ispressed against the friction element (3) of housing (5) with a conicalgroove (6) linked to a rod (7) stretching from the housing (5) to theupper end of the inner stem (1) and connected to a handle (8) whichactuate the position of the house (5).

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a trolley as described over.

FIG. 2 is a section of the stem of the trolley in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts an enlargement of the marked area in FIG. 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is achieved by an inner stem 1 and an outer stem 2wherein the inner stem 1 may glide into the outer stem 2 as shown inFIG. 1. The stems preferably have about the same cross sectional shapein order to hinder slack between the stems. A sleeve 20 prevents dirtand particles from entering between the stems as shown in FIG. 2.

The outer stem 2 is equipped with a friction element 3, as shown ingreater detail in FIG. 3. The friction element 3 stretches over a largeportion of the length of the outer stem 2. The inner stem 1 is equippedwith a corresponding blocking element 4 which may lock into the frictionelement 3 and lock the movement of the inner stem 1 in relation to theouter stem 2. In this embodiment the friction element 3 is arranged onan inner area of the outer stem 2 and the blocking element 4 is arrangedon the lower end of the inner stem 1, opposite the friction element 3.

The blocking element 4 presses against the friction element 3, achievedby that spring-loaded housing with a cocked or conical area or track 6contained within, is pressed against the blocking element 4. The housing5 is linked to a rod 7 which extends from the lower end of the innerstem 1 to the upper end of the inner stem 1, where the rod is linked toa handle 8, which tilts around an axis and is used to adjust thepositioning of the housing.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the house 5 is in the lower position such that theinner stem 1 may move up or down in the outer stem 2, by releasing theblocking element 4 in relation to the friction element 3. The handle 8is then in an elevated position, pressing the rod downwards in the lowerposition against the spring loading, provided by a spring 9, strainingthe housing 5 up from the end of the inner stem 1. When the handle 8 ispushed downward, the rod 7 is thereby pulled up and the house 5 pressesthe blocking element 4 into the friction element 3 and locking themovement of the inner stem 1 in relation to the outer stem 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the end of the inner stem may move freely between anupper position limited by a sleeve 20, on the outer part of the upperend of the stem 2, and a lower position limited by an inner clamp 21 onthe inside of the outer stem 2.

1. Locking device for a telescopic stem for a trolley, wherein the stem comprises an inner stem connected to a handle, which may glide within an outer stem, a handle at the upper end of the inner stem for controlling the locking of the inner stem in relation to the outer stem, the handle connected to a rod running through the inner stem, characterised in that a toothed friction element is arranged in the outer stem and that the inner stem is equipped with a toothed blocking element locking into the friction element and preventing movement of the inner stem in relation to the outer stem when the blocking element is pressed into the toothed friction element by a conical groove of a housing connected to the rod influencing the position of the housing.
 2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that the friction element is arranged on an inner area of the outer stem.
 3. Locking device according to any one of claims 1-2, characterised in that the a blocking element is arranged on the lower side of the stem, opposite the friction element.
 4. Locking device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the housing and/or the blocking element is spring-loaded by a spring, automatically affecting locking by the friction element. 